The best picture of W.C. Fields
is found in his latest, "Running Wild." At that, the
story is nothing to rave about, but it is made the most of by
the clever direction of Gregory La Cava, and Fields is in his
element as Elmer Finch, a downtrodden husband and father who has
worked in the same office for twenty years without a raise. He
comes into his own, however, when he runs out upon a vaudeville
stage where a hypnotist is doing his act, and Elmer is made to
believe that he is a lion. After that he conquers all he surveys.

The picture has a human quality
that raises it above the ordinary screen farce of the worm who
turns, and Fields is unique in the portrayal of this sort of character.
Mary Brian, with little to do, is the heroine.

This one pleased the majority of the reviewers who saw in it
one of the most laughable pictures of the screen. "Probably
it is not the best film every made in the world (as we at fist
decided); it may not even be the best comedy, since belated second
thoughts recalled Charlie Chaplin. But certainly," says
the World, "not for many film seasons has a
picture arrived with the shrewdness, the genuine characterization
and the irresistible hilarity that Mr. Fields brings to 'Running
Wild.' . . . The picture belong with 'A Dog's Life,' Will Rogers'
'One Glorious Day' and a few others surviving in the list of only
too rare masterpieces of film comedy." Through shrewd direction
and competent acting, the picture becomes not only amusing, but
even a little heart-warming, in the opinion of the Herald-Tribune,
which goes on to say that "as the turning worm, W.C. Fields
is excellent, giving one of the most satisfactory performances
of his screen career." Wilella Waldorf, in the Post,
says that at last somebody has supplied Fields with a film story
in which all of his old "Follies" skits are conspicuously
absent. "It is ridiculous, impossible, nonsensical,"
writes Irene Thirer in The Daily News, "and,
of course, it is laughable. In fact, the . . . presentation seen
in the projection room by the 'higher-ups,' netted W.C. Fields
a brand new starring contract. His antics aren't nearly as vaudevillish
. . . as . . . heretofore. Director La Cava has fashioned any
number of new gags, which always are mirth-provoking and sometimes
really funny." "Fields is the whole show," says
Herbert Cruikshank in The Morning Telegraph, "and
carries his burden without effort, breezing through each bit of
business with the deftness which has given him fame . . . 'Running
Wild' keeps laughter rippling."